Hyundai has revealed the new Veloster N TCR car which Bryan Herta Autosports will campaign in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, taking the covers off the new racer at the North American International Auto Show.
The car was unveiled on Monday by Hyundai North America. Bryan Herta Autosport will field two of the cars in the IMSA series, with Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins sharing one car and the second car shared by youngsters Mason Filippi, 20, and Harry Gotsacker, 18.
The car is developed by Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing at Alzenau in Germany, and shares approximately 85 percent of its components with the successful i30 N TCR, including the 350 horsepower turbocharged engine.
“The Veloster is a perfect fit for the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge as we expand our motorsports efforts,” said Hyundai Motor America’s Vice President of Marketing Dean Evans.
“The all-new 2019 Veloster and Veloster N are playful, fun-to-drive cars, and thanks to Bryan and his team we’re excited to introduce them to racing fans across North America.
“In 2018, we won a manufacturer’s championship, so it is great to get back to racing with our proven veterans, a pair of great young drivers, and this brand-new car.”
Bryan Herta, President and CEO of Bryan Herta Autosport, explained that the team’s success campaigning the Hyundai i30 N TCR in the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge prompted them to look for a different challenge for 2019.
“The success we had last year with the i30 N TCR inspired us to expand Hyundai’s motorsports program and bring the Veloster N TCR into a tougher series with longer races and more experienced drivers,” said Herta.
“Transforming the Veloster’s lightweight, rigid architecture into an endurance race car will help us build credibility for Hyundai’s growing N brand and bolster the reverse-halo effect that the Veloster brings to Hyundai’s diverse vehicle lineup.
“We can’t wait to get this new car out on the track and into competition.”
The car is available to customer teams worldwide, but priority will be given to teams operating in markets where the Veloster N road car is offered.
The 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge takes place over ten rounds, with the first getting underway at Daytona International Speedway on the 25 January.
